North Dakota provides in some detox programs a procedure known as rapid detox or Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox. This type of opiate detox is performed by placed the person under general anesthesia and is administered medication which purges the body of all substances and residues left by the addicted drug from the nervous system. Since the patient is under anesthesia, they do not feel the immediate withdrawal that takes places with this system. Pain from withdrawal is avoided. The medications Naltrexone and Naloxone are given which cause the withdrawal process to last only five to six hours instead of five to six days. When the recovering addict awakes, they will still have some withdrawal symptoms and cravings, though nothing like before the detoxification. During the addiction recovery, the cravings will decrease.

Residents of North Dakota who are addicted to Oxycontin can find oxycontin detox available in the detox programs. Oxycontin is a highly addictive prescription drug that was brought onto the medical market in 1995. Almost as soon as it was released, patients became addicted and some crush the pills to bypass the twelve hour release function. Oxycontin is very similar to morphine as it blocks pain messages traveling to the brain. It also increases the dopamine level in the brain which causes addicts to feel pleasure. Continued abuse of the drug builds tolerance forcing the addict to increase their intake of the drug. Overdose can result in death from respiratory failure. Detox programs for this type of addiction include  detox programs and then a residential program to assist in the addiction recovery.

Inpatient programs of several weeks up to eight months have been shown by studies to provide the largest margin of protection to the individual who is seeking a drug free life after detox. These programs offer detox, then drug rehab. Many addicts think that detoxification is drug rehab and vice versa, but this is not so. Detoxification, whether it be alcohol detox or opiate detox is only the first step to drug rehab. Rehabilitation seeks to strengthen the tools and goals learned while in detox. Treatment centers may or may not have a continuing drug rehab on the same grounds of the detox center. If not, a recovering addict will be referred to another center or given information from the staff on where to find the best continued care. Tools learned in detox and rehab seek to teach the recovering addict how to avoid situations that may trigger cravings for the drug he or she had been abusing. What to do when meeting with old friends who may still be abusing, how to cope with smells or sights that may cause a trigger are all taught as part of rehabilitation.

For any detox program to be successful, the recovering addict must be determined to follow through with the tools learned while in addiction recovery. Entering drug rehabilitation and keeping a firm resolve will drop the risk of relapse immensely. Whether the addict chooses outpatient or inpatient treatment, as long as the recovering addict is serious about removing drugs or alcohol from their life is the keystone of the entire process.